The Independent National Electoral Commission is considering a full audit of its electoral technology systems and a mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general election. Professor Joash Amupitan, the INEC chairman, disclosed this during a visit from British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery to the commission's Abuja headquarters on Thursday.
Amupitan said the proposals stem from concerns that emerged during the 2023 general election, particularly around the dependability of election technology. He explained that INEC wants to test the reliability of all its systems and processes before the actual 2027 polls.
The mock election and systems audit aren't currently in the commission's budget, Amupitan noted. He said INEC would seek ways to fund these initiatives if they're deemed necessary, given their importance to strengthening electoral credibility.
The chairman tied these proposals to the commission's wider push to improve technological reliability and an ongoing review of its cyber-security structure. This review covers system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery mechanisms, he added.
Amupitan stressed that public trust in elections hinges heavily on the dependability of INEC's technology and operations. The commission remains committed to fixing any weaknesses identified from past elections before 2027, he said.
Election technology and cyber-security form a key area where INEC and the United Kingdom collaborate, according to the chairman. He highlighted the value of the commission's technical partnerships with the UK and other international organisations, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
"The commission is committed to delivering elections that are credible, transparent and reflective of the will of Nigerians," Amupitan said.
He noted that electoral credibility is a shared responsibility requiring input from political parties, security agencies, civil society, development partners and citizens. INEC's confidence in delivering trustworthy elections depends on cooperation across these groups, he stressed.
